Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealtihotpi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealtihotpi’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching growth habit; numerous large dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duealtihotpi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duealtihotpi’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa cultivars with large attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2006 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A05-12380-023, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Calibrachoa sp. as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duealtihotpi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duealtihotpi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and         decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Numerous large dark pink-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa ‘KLECA05101’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,610. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of ‘KLECA05101’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright and vigorous         than plants of ‘KLECA05101’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of ‘KLECA05101’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘KLECA05101’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘KLECA05101’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa. The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering lateral branch of ‘Duealtihotpi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers in Rheinberg, Germany, under commercial practice during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures averaging 18° C. and light levels averaging 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting had been growing for 13 weeks when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealtihotpi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A05-1238-023, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Calibrachoa             sp., not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright and outwardly             spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely             branching habit with about 10 to 15 lateral branches;             pinching enhances branching; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 20 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 13 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 50 open flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers             face upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about four weeks after             planting; plants flower continuously from the spring until             the autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.3 cm.             Diameter: About 4.7 mm. Color: Close to 150A to 150B and             70C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.8 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded to cordate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 63A to 63B. Petal, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 58D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 63B to 63C; color becoming closer to 48B to 48C             with development; venation, close to 59A. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 58D; venation, close to 200A             and 77A. Throat: Close to 57A; venation, close to 187A.             Tube: Close to 9A; venation, close to 200D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.6 cm. Sepal             width: About 3.6 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Six per             flower. Filament length: About 4.4 mm. Filament color: Close             to 144A. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 0.5             mm to 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A to 14B. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A to 14B. Pistils:             Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style             length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Stigma             shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A. Seed/fruit:

Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.

-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealtihotpi’ as illustrated and described. 